Recall - Head Impact Non-Compliance: Overview

Subject:
FMVSS Noncompliance - Head Impact Protection
# 06217A - (04/04/2007)

Models:
2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe

Without Roof-Mounted Side Impact Airbags

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO UPDATE THE SERVICE PROCEDURE AND ADD LABOR OPERATIONS. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 06217, ISSUED MARCH 2007.

Condition

General Motors has decided that certain 2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe vehicles not equipped with optional roof-mounted side impact airbags fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact". In tests at an impact point near the attachment of the sun visor to the roof the Standard's requirement was exceeded. If a front seat occupant's head contacts that point in a crash, the occupant's injury could be increased.

Correction

Dealers are to install an energy absorbing device between the front headliner and the vehicle roof.

Vehicles Involved





Involved are certain 2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe vehicles without roof-mounted side impact airbags and built within the VIN breakpoints shown.

IMPORTANT:
Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using GMVIS. Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.

For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided through GM DealerWorld Recall Information. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.





Parts Information

Inspection

Determine if the vehicle is equipped with side impact air bags. Refer to GMVIS to verify vehicle content.

^ If the vehicle is equipped with side impact air bags, do not perform the service procedure in this bulletin. No further action is required. Submit a claim for Vehicle is Equipped with Side Impact Air Bags, labor operation V 1593 for 0.2.

Interim Production Repair





Current Production and Service Repair





^ If the vehicle does not have side impact air bags, refer to the service procedure in this bulletin. Perform Steps 1-4 on the driver's side of the vehicle only. After performing Steps 1-4, the headliner will drop about 203 mm (8 in), which will provide adequate room to determine if the energy absorbing (EA) piece has been installed.

- If either the interim production or current production/service repair have been performed, reinstall the headliner. A-pillar trim panel, and sunshade. Submit a claim for Inspect Vehicle to Determine if Energy Absorbing Device is Installed, labor operation V 1594 for 0.4.

- If the production repair has not been performed, complete the service procedure in this bulletin. Install the energy absorbing (EA) plastic piece into the headliner at both the driver and passenger side A-pillar locations. Submit a claim for Install Energy Absorbing Device, labor operation V 1556 for 0.7.

Courtesy Transportation

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation Program is intended to minimize
customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy
transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty
coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in
maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these
customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy
transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers
should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual
for courtesy transportation guidelines.

Claim Information





Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information shown.

Customer Notification

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).

Dealer Recall Responsibility

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having to provide these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this recall may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with a an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the recall correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall at no charge to customers regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. A copy of the customer letter is shown in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.





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